Jakim Smith, a 26-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on May 26, 2020, in Spindale, North Carolina. He was fatally shot at the Town and Country Inn Suites on Reservation Drive around 7:30 p.m. Responding officers and emergency medical services found Smith injured with a gunshot wound, and he succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to Rutherford Regional Hospital.
The investigation into Smith's death led to the arrest of Douglas Emanuel Montgomery, a 40-year-old convicted felon, who was identified as a suspect through surveillance video from the motel. Montgomery was seen getting into a blue Kia Soul and leaving the scene shortly after the shooting. A manhunt was launched for Montgomery, who was later taken into custody. Additionally, Maurice Reginal Williams was also wanted in connection with the shooting.
Three other individuals were charged in relation to Smith's death. Alicia Danielle Earley and Kristina Lee Rausch were charged with accessory after the fact, while Andre Rashod Mills faced charges for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a stolen firearm. Mills was already in custody at the time, but Earley and Rausch remained at large.
The incident was reported to have stemmed from an altercation between Montgomery and Smith, which occurred in front of multiple witnesses. Investigators spoke with some witnesses and continued to search for additional witnesses to gather more information about the events leading up to the shooting.
The Spindale Police Department, along with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, conducted a thorough investigation into the shooting. Chief Eric Shelton of the Spindale Police Department stated that the murder took place outside the motel, not in a room, and that the victim's mother was deeply upset by the incident.
The case drew significant attention, and the victim's family considered pursuing legal claims and seeking substantial compensation if the investigation revealed that the hotel's security measures were inadequate to protect its visitors.
In summary, Jakim Smith's death was a tragic event that led to multiple arrests and charges, with the investigation revealing a complex series of events and interactions that culminated in his untimely demise.
